diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effect_controls.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effect_controls.rs
index 8c4532eb..03b3a1ac 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effect_controls.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effect_controls.rs
@@ -1407,14 +1407,18 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     ui.set_clip_rect(panel_clip);
     let content_h = y + scroll.offset - body.min.y;
     scroll.end(ui, &mut app.auto, "effectControls.scroll", content_h, &t);
-    // Drop effects here.
+    // Drop effects and animation presets here.
     if let Some(payload) = egui::DragAndDrop::payload::<crate::panels::DragPayload>(&ctx)
         && ui.rect_contains_pointer(rect)
-        && let crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(e) = payload.as_ref()
+        && let Some((id, params)) = match payload.as_ref() {
+            crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(e) => Some(("effect.apply", json!({"effect": e, "layers": [layer.id.0]}))),
+            crate::panels::DragPayload::Preset { preset, .. } => Some(preset.apply_to(layer.id.0)),
+            _ => None,
+        }
     {
         p.rect_stroke(rect, 0.0, Stroke::new(2.0, t.accent), egui::StrokeKind::Inside);
         if ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.any_released()) {
-            actions.push(("effect.apply".into(), json!({"effect": e, "layers": [layer.id.0]})));
+            actions.push((id.into(), params));
             egui::DragAndDrop::clear_payload(&ctx);
         }
     }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effects_presets.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effects_presets.rs
index 1d30cdcb..d2058fbe 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effects_presets.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/effects_presets.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,8 @@
 //! filters, animation presets on/off, categories or alphabetical, refresh), Favorites (star an
 //! effect), Recently Used, "* Animation Presets" (EffectCraft's own text animation and transition
 //! presets and the user's `.ecpreset` files) and the effect categories. Double-click applies to the
-//! selected layers; dragging an effect onto a layer (timeline, viewer, Effect Controls) applies
-//! it there.
+//! selected layers; dragging an effect or an animation preset onto a layer (timeline, viewer,
+//! Effect Controls) applies it there.
 
 use crate::i18n::tr;
 use egui::{Align2, Color32, Rect, Sense, Stroke, pos2, vec2};
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ use serde_json::json;
 use std::sync::Arc;
 
 use crate::icons::{self, Icon};
-use crate::panels::DragPayload;
+use crate::panels::{DragPayload, PresetRef};
 use crate::theme::Tokens;
 use crate::{EffectcraftApp, widgets};
 
@@ -108,10 +108,8 @@ fn highlighted(p: &egui::Painter, pos: egui::Pos2, name: &str, query: &str, t: &
 
 enum Apply {
     Effect(String),
-    TextPreset(String),
-    /// A built-in animation preset (Transitions…) by id.
-    Builtin(String),
-    PresetFile(String),
+    /// A text, built-in (Transitions…) or user file animation preset.
+    Preset(PresetRef),
 }
 
 /// A folder row; returns whether it is open.
@@ -216,7 +214,7 @@ fn effect_row(
     }
 }
 
-/// A preset row (no drag; double-click applies).
+/// A preset row: double-click applies to the selected layers; drag it onto a layer to apply it there.
 #[allow(clippy::too_many_arguments)]
 fn preset_row(
     app: &mut EffectcraftApp,
@@ -227,7 +225,7 @@ fn preset_row(
     name: &str,
     auto_id: &str,
     query: &str,
-    on_apply: impl FnOnce() -> Apply,
+    preset: PresetRef,
     apply: &mut Option<Apply>,
 ) {
     let t = app.tokens;
@@ -236,15 +234,18 @@ fn preset_row(
     if r.max.y < list.min.y || r.min.y > list.max.y {
         return;
     }
-    let resp = ui.interact(r.intersect(list), egui::Id::new(("fxpreset", auto_id)), Sense::click());
+    let resp = ui.interact(r.intersect(list), egui::Id::new(("fxpreset", auto_id)), Sense::click_and_drag());
     if resp.hovered() {
         lp.rect_filled(r, 0.0, t.hover);
     }
     icons::paint(lp, Rect::from_center_size(pos2(r.min.x + 58.0, r.center().y), vec2(12.0, 12.0)), Icon::Keyframe, t.text_dim);
     highlighted(lp, pos2(r.min.x + 70.0, r.center().y), name, query, &t);
     app.auto.add(auto_id, r, name);
+    if resp.drag_started() {
+        egui::DragAndDrop::set_payload(ui.ctx(), DragPayload::Preset { preset: preset.clone(), name: name.to_string() });
+    }
     if resp.double_clicked() {
-        *apply = Some(on_apply());
+        *apply = Some(Apply::Preset(preset));
     }
 }
 
@@ -395,7 +396,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         if any && folder_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, "presets", "* Animation Presets", 0.0, searching, None) {
             if !text.is_empty() && folder_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, "presets/Text", "Text", 14.0, searching, None) {
                 for (id, name) in text {
-                    preset_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, &name, &format!("effects.preset.text.{id}"), &query, || Apply::TextPreset(id.clone()), &mut apply);
+                    preset_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, &name, &format!("effects.preset.text.{id}"), &query, PresetRef::Text(id.clone()), &mut apply);
                 }
             }
             for cat in &categories {
@@ -403,7 +404,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                     continue;
                 }
                 for (id, name, _) in builtin.iter().filter(|(_, _, c)| c == cat) {
-                    preset_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, name, &format!("effects.preset.builtin.{id}"), &query, || Apply::Builtin(id.clone()), &mut apply);
+                    preset_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, name, &format!("effects.preset.builtin.{id}"), &query, PresetRef::Builtin(id.clone()), &mut apply);
                 }
             }
             if !files.is_empty() && folder_row(app, ui, &lp, list, &mut y, "presets/User", "User Presets", 14.0, searching, None) {
@@ -417,7 +418,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                         &f.name,
                         &format!("effects.preset.file.{}", f.name),
                         &query,
-                        || Apply::PresetFile(f.path.clone()),
+                        PresetRef::File(f.path.clone()),
                         &mut apply,
                     );
                 }
@@ -455,10 +456,12 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     }
     let content = y + scroll.offset - list.min.y;
     scroll.end(ui, &mut app.auto, "effects.scroll", content, &t);
-    if let Some(DragPayload::Effect(id)) = egui::DragAndDrop::payload::<DragPayload>(&ctx).as_deref()
-        && let Some(pos) = ctx.pointer_hover_pos()
+    if let Some(name) = egui::DragAndDrop::payload::<DragPayload>(&ctx).and_then(|p| match p.as_ref() {
+        DragPayload::Effect(id) => Some(effectcraft_engine::effects::find(id).map(|e| crate::i18n::effects::name(e.id, e.name)).unwrap_or_default()),
+        DragPayload::Preset { name, .. } => Some(name.clone()),
+        _ => None,
+    }) && let Some(pos) = ctx.pointer_hover_pos()
     {
-        let name = effectcraft_engine::effects::find(id).map(|e| crate::i18n::effects::name(e.id, e.name)).unwrap_or_default();
         let painter = ctx.layer_painter(egui::LayerId::new(egui::Order::Tooltip, egui::Id::new("dnd-fx")));
         let g = painter.layout_no_wrap(name, Tokens::ui(12.0), t.text);
         let r = Rect::from_min_size(pos + vec2(12.0, 8.0), g.size() + vec2(16.0, 8.0));
@@ -473,9 +476,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
     }
     let (cmd, params) = match &apply {
         Apply::Effect(id) => ("effect.apply", json!({"effect": id})),
-        Apply::TextPreset(id) => ("layer.applyTextPreset", json!({"preset": id})),
-        Apply::Builtin(id) => ("anim.applyBuiltinPreset", json!({"preset": id})),
-        Apply::PresetFile(path) => ("anim.applyPreset", json!({"path": path})),
+        Apply::Preset(preset) => preset.command(),
     };
     match app.session.execute(cmd, params) {
         Err(e) => app.ui.status = e.to_string(),
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/mod.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/mod.rs
index cedea209..3aa9a19c 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/mod.rs
@@ -76,12 +76,49 @@ pub enum DragPayload {
     Item(u64),
     /// An effect id from Effects & Presets.
     Effect(String),
+    /// An animation preset from Effects & Presets, with its display name for the drag ghost.
+    Preset { preset: PresetRef, name: String },
     /// A property dragged from the timeline (to the Essential Graphics panel).
     Property { layer: u64, prop: u64 },
     /// Files from the Media Browser (import; into the timeline: import and add).
     Files(Vec<String>),
 }
 
+/// An animation preset in Effects & Presets.
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum PresetRef {
+    /// A text animation preset id (`layer.applyTextPreset`).
+    Text(String),
+    /// A built-in animation preset id, e.g. a transition (`anim.applyBuiltinPreset`).
+    Builtin(String),
+    /// A user `.ecpreset` file path (`anim.applyPreset`).
+    File(String),
+}
+
+impl PresetRef {
+    /// The command and params that apply the preset to the selected layers.
+    pub fn command(&self) -> (&'static str, serde_json::Value) {
+        match self {
+            PresetRef::Text(id) => ("layer.applyTextPreset", serde_json::json!({"preset": id})),
+            PresetRef::Builtin(id) => ("anim.applyBuiltinPreset", serde_json::json!({"preset": id})),
+            PresetRef::File(path) => ("anim.applyPreset", serde_json::json!({"path": path})),
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// The command and params that apply the preset to `layer` (a drop target).
+    pub fn apply_to(&self, layer: u64) -> (&'static str, serde_json::Value) {
+        let (id, mut params) = self.command();
+        if let Some(obj) = params.as_object_mut() {
+            // `layer.applyTextPreset` takes one `layer`; the animation preset commands take `layers`.
+            match self {
+                PresetRef::Text(_) => obj.insert("layer".into(), serde_json::json!(layer)),
+                PresetRef::Builtin(_) | PresetRef::File(_) => obj.insert("layers".into(), serde_json::json!([layer])),
+            };
+        }
+        (id, params)
+    }
+}
+
 /// Layers carried by a Project item drag. Dragging a selected item uses the
 /// complete selection, while dragging an unselected item uses only that item.
 /// Folders and data files are not composition layers.
@@ -250,3 +287,18 @@ pub fn panel_menu_popup(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui) {
         ui.ctx().data_mut(|d| d.remove::<(PanelKind, egui::Pos2)>(id));
     }
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod preset_drop_tests {
+    use super::PresetRef;
+    use serde_json::json;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn preset_drops_target_the_layer_with_each_commands_param() {
+        assert_eq!(PresetRef::Text("typewriter".into()).apply_to(7), ("layer.applyTextPreset", json!({"preset": "typewriter", "layer": 7})));
+        assert_eq!(PresetRef::Builtin("fadeIn".into()).apply_to(7), ("anim.applyBuiltinPreset", json!({"preset": "fadeIn", "layers": [7]})));
+        assert_eq!(PresetRef::File("/p/a.ecpreset".into()).apply_to(7), ("anim.applyPreset", json!({"path": "/p/a.ecpreset", "layers": [7]})));
+        // Double-click applies to the selection: no layer given.
+        assert_eq!(PresetRef::Text("typewriter".into()).command(), ("layer.applyTextPreset", json!({"preset": "typewriter"})));
+    }
+}
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
index e9660da3..b34fbd9d 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/timeline.rs
@@ -3346,7 +3346,8 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         }
     }
 
-    // Drop targets: effects from Effects & Presets go on the layer under the pointer. Footage and
+    // Drop targets: effects and animation presets from Effects & Presets go on the layer under the
+    // pointer. Footage and
     // comps from the Project panel and files from the Media Browser go where they are dropped: a
     // line shows the place in the stack, and over the time graph a marker shows the In point too
     // (Shift: at the current time).
@@ -3355,7 +3356,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
         && let Some(ptr) = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.hover_pos()).filter(|_| ui.rect_contains_pointer(rows_rect))
     {
         let released = ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.any_released());
-        if let crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(e) = payload.as_ref() {
+        if matches!(payload.as_ref(), crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(_) | crate::panels::DragPayload::Preset { .. }) {
             let target = hit_rows.iter().find(|(r, _)| ptr.y >= r.min.y && ptr.y < r.max.y).map(|(_, row)| row.layer);
             // The layer the effect would land on (its row and its open properties) is the one
             // that lights up, not the whole timeline.
@@ -3369,7 +3370,14 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                 app.auto.add("timeline.dropTarget", lit, "Drop target layer");
             }
             if released && let Some(l) = target {
-                actions.push(("effect.apply".into(), json!({"effect": e, "layers": [l.0]})));
+                match payload.as_ref() {
+                    crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(e) => actions.push(("effect.apply".into(), json!({"effect": e, "layers": [l.0]}))),
+                    crate::panels::DragPayload::Preset { preset, .. } => {
+                        let (id, params) = preset.apply_to(l.0);
+                        actions.push((id.into(), params));
+                    }
+                    _ => {}
+                }
             }
         } else {
             let layer_rows: Vec<(Rect, LayerId)> = hit_rows.iter().filter(|(_, r)| matches!(r.kind, RowKind::Layer)).map(|(rr, r)| (*rr, r.layer)).collect();
@@ -3405,7 +3413,7 @@ pub fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &mut egui::Ui, rect: Rect) {
                     crate::panels::DragPayload::Files(paths) => {
                         actions.push(("mediaBrowser.import".into(), json!({"paths": paths, "addToComp": true, "index": index, "time": time})))
                     }
-                    crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(_) | crate::panels::DragPayload::Property { .. } => {}
+                    crate::panels::DragPayload::Effect(_) | crate::panels::DragPayload::Preset { .. } | crate::panels::DragPayload::Property { .. } => {}
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer_drop.rs b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer_drop.rs
index 2d42eb2c..44364a49 100644
--- a/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer_drop.rs
+++ b/crates/ui-egui/src/panels/viewer_drop.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 //! Dropping onto the Composition viewer: footage, comps and solids from the
 //! Project panel and files from the Media Browser become layers centred where they are dropped
-//! (#85), and an effect from Effects & Presets goes on the layer under the pointer, outlined
-//! while it is dragged (#88). Agents do the same with `layer.addItem {position}`,
-//! `mediaBrowser.import {position}` and `effect.apply {layers}`.
+//! (#85), and an effect or animation preset from Effects & Presets goes on the layer under the
+//! pointer, outlined while it is dragged (#88). Agents do the same with `layer.addItem {position}`,
+//! `mediaBrowser.import {position}`, `effect.apply {layers}` and the preset commands.
 
 use effectcraft_engine::project::{ItemId, ItemKind};
 use effectcraft_engine::render::EvalCtx;
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ pub(crate) fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &egui::Ui, painter: &egui::Pain
             })
             .into_iter()
             .collect(),
+        DragPayload::Preset { preset, .. } => layer_at(ectx, at)
+            .map(|l| {
+                if let Some((_, q, _)) = layer_quad(ectx, l) {
+                    painter.add(egui::Shape::closed_line(q.iter().map(|c| map.to_screen(*c)).collect(), stroke));
+                }
+                preset.apply_to(l.id.0)
+            })
+            .into_iter()
+            .collect(),
         DragPayload::Item(item) => {
             // The layer's frame, centred on the pointer.
             if let Some([w, h]) = app.session.project.item(ItemId(*item)).and_then(|it| frame_size(&it.kind, ectx.comp.pixel_aspect)) {
@@ -45,7 +54,9 @@ pub(crate) fn show(app: &mut EffectcraftApp, ui: &egui::Ui, painter: &egui::Pain
         DragPayload::Files(paths) => vec![("mediaBrowser.import", json!({"paths": paths, "addToComp": true, "position": at}))],
         DragPayload::Property { .. } => vec![],
     };
-    if actions.first().is_some_and(|(id, _)| *id != "effect.apply") {
+    // Layer drops outline the target layer; the others outline the whole viewer.
+    let layer_drop = matches!(payload.as_ref(), DragPayload::Effect(_) | DragPayload::Preset { .. });
+    if !layer_drop && !actions.is_empty() {
         painter.rect_stroke(map.area, 0.0, stroke, StrokeKind::Inside);
     }
     if ctx.input(|i| i.pointer.any_released()) {